Osteospermum plant named ‘DEL COM WH’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small daisy type inflorescences, freely flowering, compact growth habit, pure white inflorescences with a dark purple and violet underside and a dark blue center, and a high heat tolerance.

Latin name of the genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘DEL COM WH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘DEL COM WH’ is a product of open pollination in a heterogeneous population of Osteospermum mass selection in 2004. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Markus Schmulling in June 2005 in Billerbeck, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DEL COM WH’ by cuttings from adventitious shoots was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DEL COM WH’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DEL COM WH’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DEL COM WH’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum cultivar:

-   -   1. Small daisy type inflorescence;     -   2. Freely flowering, compact growth habit;     -   3. Pure white inflorescences with a dark purple and violet         underside and a dark blue center; and     -   4. High heat tolerance.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent selections in growth habit and size, inflorescence size and level of heat tolerance.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Osjamwhit’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,070), ‘DEL COM WH’ has an earlier natural flowering season. Additionally, ‘DEL COM WH’ has a longer internode length and a longer inflorescence longevity. Also, ‘DEL COM WH’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and more ray and disc florets per inflorescence. Finally, the disc florets of ‘DEL COM WH’ are a much darker blue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DEL COM WH’ grown in an outdoor garden. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DEL COM WH’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of January through June in an outdoor garden. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar ‘DEL COM     WH’. -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Osteospermum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 10 to 14 days at approximately 22° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright outwardly spreading herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 37 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 90 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 30 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 105. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 137 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.85 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire with occasional tiny serrations.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137C. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near Green 143C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 143C.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with continuous blooming from spring through             autumn and year round in a greenhouse environment. More             compact and better flowering through the summer.         -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout February to             September in temperate regions.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             15.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 6 to 10             days; longevity of individual flowers are very dependent on             temperature and light conditions. Color stays as the flower             ages.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—22.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped, facing upward or outward.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 2.1 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Orange-White             159D. Upper surface at maturity: Near White 155B. Upper             surface at fading: Near White 155D. Under surface at first             opening: Near Purple 79A with longitudinal stripes of near             Purple 76C. Under surface at maturity: Near Purple 79A with             longitudinal stripes of near Violet 87D. Under surface at             fading: Near Violet 86A with longitudinal stripes of near             Violet 85D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 107.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Five-pointed.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Blue 103B. At maturity: Near             Blue 103A. At fading: Near Blue 103A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Between 9 and 15 cm.         -   Angle.—Terminal peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary             peduncles, about 45° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Form.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 22.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             138A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Androecium.—Present on disc florets only. Number of             stamens: 5. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:             Approximately 1.3 mm. Anther color: Near Blue 103A. Amount             of pollen: Minimal. Pollen color: Near Yellow-Orange 16A.         -   Gynoecium.—Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil Number:             One. Pistil length: Approximately 4 mm. Stigma shape: Two             parted. Stigma length: Approximately 1 mm. Stigma color:             Near Blue 79A. Style length: Approximately 1.1 mm. Style             color: Near Purple 79D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants are moderately drought     tolerant. Plants need cold, less than 12.8° C. for flower induction. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘DEL COM WH’ as herein illustrated and described. 